Minor Observations from My Weekend

Stomach pains are evil, especially when nausea is thrown in the mix.

Bears games bring out the Bears fans, despite their horrible playing. (I am not a football fan.) At least they wear orange.

Men shouldn't have word tattoos in the middle of their chests. And if they are hosts at a restaurant, they shouldn't leave their shirts unbuttoned so you can see it.

While I'm on the subject of restaurant hosts, I noticed one obsessively checking her blackberry... I would've fired her.

Paying my nephew to do chores was a mistake. He did a half-assed job.

The Chicago MCA is interesting. I fear it's a one-time only deal for me. Contemporary art doesn't "blow up my skirt". Especially the video installation of a naked woman with a model house on her head, which she repeatedly beat against the wall. What is the message? I don't get it.

Caprese sandwiches are better without the bread.

Trader Joe's clerks are generally friendly and fun. In fact, after the 311 concert, I had a blast chatting about the fivesome with one in Geneva. However, while checking out with a much-needed bottle of water and bar of dark chocolate (no Green & Blacks downtown - boo!), I had the most awkward conversation with the check-out guy. And I'm a pretty fun and easy-going gal. When we walked out, my date even noted the poor guy's weirdness.

I actually love this time of year, as long as the snow holds out.

The ups of the roller coaster

I'm definitely on an upswing on my life roller coaster.

Work is challenging, but great. I love it. I've been extremely focused, productive and effective. And, it's fun. I really love it.

Dating has been more of a downswing until recently. I actually met someone who has an IQ over 100, opens the car door for me, makes fun of bad furniture, and is cute to boot. Makes up for the wasted time on whiners.

Seriously, I could write some interesting tales of men who love to whine... "whaaaa, it sounds like you have your life together more than I do... whaaaa" "uhhh, why are you sick again, how come we can't go out, you don't like me, waaaaaa." 1. Your admission about not having your life together just goes to show me that I don't need to go out with you. 2. There are other aspects of life that consume my time, including being sick. If you can't deal with it, more on.)

My house is good shape; the cats are healthy; all my friends are happy.

If only I was speaking to my family again... hmm.

Today is an 8

I've gotten into the habit of reading my horoscope in the newspaper. Every day, each sign is given a number rating - 0 is challenging, 10 is fabulous! I've never seen below a 5.

Today, it says: Everything you hear today meshes with what you believe to be true. Don't hesitate to act on this.

Wonder if I should listen for lotto numbers.

Why doesn't a paint can give an estimate on square footage it will cover?

Why doesn't the dollar store carry individual coffee servings so I can stick it in the mug for my boss?

Why do all chocolate recipes use cocoa and not milk chocolate pieces?

...

I drink... a lot

"I drink... a lot" was my response when the kwik mart clerk said "You always seem so happy, why is that?"

But there are actually so many reasons!

• I'm free of laboy, and sometimes, it surprises me that I don't miss him.
  
• In the last 8 months, I've re-fallen in love with my work.
• I have fantastic co-workers.
  
• It's still warm outside.
• I have great friends.
• I love biking now (and... shhh, this is very hush hush... considering training for a triathlon.)
• I own my own house.
• My car 100% paid for and running wonderfully.
• There's always something fun going on! (Cubs game in Milwaukee on Monday!)
  
• My nephew is at college so my introvert self is back to enjoying living alone again.
• I'm sleeping well.

So, it's no wonder I'm happy... but it's a reminder when someone I hardly know mentions it to me as I'm buying a lotto ticket.

Now it's time to really stick to eating better and getting back into shape.

Working Through "The List"

Another major timesuck, as of late, has been the wonderful words of wonderful authors. Yeap, I'm working my way through a list of 100 books dubbed as "great". I'd say I've already read nearly half, but I'm forcing myself a re-read since I don't remember much about them.

So far, The Great Gatsby has been my best reread. "There are only four types of people, the pursuing, the pursued, the busy and the tired." love it, love it! Didn't remember that from the first time around. Personally, I fall in the "busy" category.

Despite my dislike of Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice was the next book I picked up. (Read it already and listened to it on audio... but doesn't count, le sigh.) I consistently fall asleep with it falling out of my hands, so I'm reading "Bridget Jones's Diary" on the side. (As well as "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" - verrrry interesting.)

A few friends at work have teased me by my recent "plow through a book in a week" attitude and have suggested I start a blog to talk about my book adventures too. (ahhh, how I laugh)

Apparently, I have become the office literati when someone is stuck for a book and wants non-fluff to read. (My fluff reading days are far gone, unless you count the witchcraft and wizardry of Gearge RR Martin and the late (sniff) Robert Jordan.)

I have no desire to blog in-depth about books. Writing about reading is something I'll save for when I'm back in the classroom. The goal is for the Spring. Shazaaam! Time to finish up that edumacation so I can make the big bucks.

A Night Sans Nephew

Is a night of productivity.

One of my gal-pals at work tomorrow will receive this lovely make-up brush bag:


It's amazing what a piece of fabric can turn into.

New Glasses and Domesticity

A trip to the optometrist and another trip to Pearle Vision, and I now can see well again. I splurged and got a D&G black wire frame and a Prada tortoiseshell frame.

The optometrist has referred me to an ophthalmologist for further testing. I'll hopefully have some answers to my "visual field defect" on Monday. Nothing scares me more than losing my sight. Sad, I know.

So, it's been a few years since I learned how to knit. I've been working on my sewing skills. And now that I am free of the laboy, I have started cooking.

My biggest accomplishment: I made vegetable stock from scratch and used it to make homemade french onion soup. Tonight, I made Kraft macaroni and cheese...

On my way, but not quite there yet...

I do stuff, really!

Last weekend:

The Focus is running happily thanks to the guys at Haraldsen's Garage. I became infatuated with this local garage when I lived 2 blocks away in Westmont. I could drop off the car and walk home. Now, I live about 1.5 miles away from the one in Darien, which is still a do-able walk on a cool summer morning. Was I surprised when they gifted me with a bottle opener keychain? No comment.

Transformers 2 confirms my crush on Optimus Prime. My heart will forever be held by the brave, badass leader of the Autobots. I really adore the Transformers movies. I can't wait to see it in iMax.

There's always irony when my vegetarian self walks into Ribfest. My nephew's grandfather was doing a check presentation, and we didn't want to miss it. So we ate and drank in the sponsor's tent, played basketball, and walked for 15 minutes for free parking.

The DG Independence Day Parade compares with Dixon's. (I've always loved the Dixon parade for the tractors and good ole country feel.) DG's is filled with incredible give-aways: t-shirts, frisbees, beach balls, and fly swatters. Beats the crap out of paper fans and stale tootsie rolls.

My artwork is now happily on display in the condo. (Pictures to come eventually.) The Artoos and Kitties and overall kitche is out and makes me feel like this is .... home. Enough so that I hugged the walls.

And - a wonderful motorcycle ride up to Milwaukee for Summerfest! I learned how to hop on the back without issue, but have yet to master the graceful dismount. Next time, I cannot forget my sunglasses. Summerfest is incredible - less crowded than the Taste, easier to get to, and lots of food/drink varieties. (Yes, there is a martini bar!) I love Milwaukee...

We saw Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock while we were up there - and seriously, I am shocked to admit this - Kid Rock is one hell of an entertainer. At the end of the show, I turned to my partner in crime for the day and said "WOW!" I'm still blown away by his energy and the way he seamlessly transitions from Rock to Blues to County back to Rock. I am afraid that I may like a little bit of country now and then. (Agh!)

This weekend - a lot less busy. However, I have menus planned for the next week (for the first time in my entire life).

When I originally wrote the contract for the condo, I took this video. It doesn't have any of my charm (such as my new super-awesome coffee table), but if anyone wants to see where I live now - here it is: